A41649:445
A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the…
A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the awakening the consciences of secure sinners, unto a lively sense and apprehension of the dreadful condition they are in, so long as they live in their natural and unregenerate estate. The latter tending to the directing and persuading of the godly and regenerate unto several singular duties. As also a word to householders stirring them up to the good old way of serving God in and with their families, from Joshua's resolution, Josh. 24. 15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Set forth especially for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of St. Sepulchres Parish, London by Tho. Gouge, late pastor thereof.A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the awakening the consciences of secure sinners, unto a lively sense and apprehension of the dreadfull condition they are in, so long as they live in their natural and unregenerate estate. The latter tending to the directing and perswading of the godly and regenerate unto several singular duties. As also a word to housholders stirring them up to the good old way of serving God in and with their families, from Joshuah's resolution, Josh. 24. 15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Set forth especially for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of St. Sepulchres Parish, London by Tho. Gouge, late pastor thereof.
London: printed for George Sawbridge, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part › Chapter 15: Other Means on our part to be performed for attaining of Regeneration.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VI With patience wait upon Christ in the use of his Ordinances, especially the Word and Prayer.
VI WIth patience wait upon Christ in the use of his Ordinances, especially the Word and Prayer.
1. Frequent the Ministry of the Word, where the Spirit of God useth to breath. The Spirit is the principal worker of this great work, as our Saviour expresseth. And the Ministry of the Word is the ordinary Means and instrument,1 which the spirit of God useth for the effecting hereof. The Spirit of God breaths not in an Ale-house, or in a Tavern, or Play-house, but in the Ministry of the Word. Whereupon the Apostle Paul calls it the Word of life, 2by which our souls are quickened: And the Apostle Peter, the seed of Regeneration, by which we are new born.3 Being born again, saith he, ⟨p. 123⟩not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God; this seed being sown in the heart, doth by little and little grow up to a new creature. In this respect the Preachers of the Gospel are called spiritual Fathers, because by their Ministry they beget men unto God, 4as Paul told the Corinthians, that he had begotten them through the Gospel. So that it is clear that the Ministry of the Word is the ordinary means whereby the Holy Ghost doth usually work in us that great work of Regeneration.
1. Frequent the Ministry of the Word, where the Spirit of God useth to breath. The Spirit is the principal worker of this great work, as our Saviour expresseth. And the Ministry of the Word is the ordinary Means and instrument,